it's very rare that I do this, but here's Margaret Thatcher's take on the dangers of referendums, which we're now witnessing.
The idea that a referendum on a very broad question should then give the leader a mandate to basically do whatever they want within that broad mandate without any parliamentary scrutiny is taking us down the road that leads to fascism. Even Thatcher recognised this.
Also questioning the independence of the judiciary has similar negative historical precedents.
Clem Attlee had the same concern.
In March 1975 Margaret Thatcher also quoted Clement Attlee that referendums are “a device of dictators and demagogues” as Napoleon, Mussolini and Hitler had exploited their use in the past.
The idea that a referendum on a very broad question should then give the leader a mandate to basically do whatever they want within that broad mandate without any parliamentary scrutiny is taking us down the road that leads to fascism. Even Thatcher recognised this.
Also questioning the independence of the judiciary has similar negative historical precedents.
Clem Attlee had the same concern.
Clement Attlee refused citing ‘I could not consent to the introduction into our national life of a device so alien to all our traditions as the referendum which has only too often been the instrument of Nazism and Fascism.’